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Osola 



Hn epic poem 

The Legend of the Mysterious Smoke of Wakulla 

X 



By 

Reinette Gamble Long 

Author of "Welaunee", and other sketches of 
Seminole Days 



r^i^i 2.2. a 



TO 

MY MOTHER 



Copyright 1922 
By Reinette L. Hunt 
Tallahassee, Fla. 



NOV 23*22 ©ci.A6S2eo2 



Ccfjoe* of tfje $as*t 



Shadows of an autumn dusk are creeping, 
Stealing softly over forest shade; 

Repeated call of night-bird softly tweeting 
Echoes through the stillness of the glade. 

Waters from a hidden spring are flowing, 
Rippling gently through the mossy glen, 

Burial mound of Red-man, clearly showing 
This was once the haunt of warrior men. 



Since the time of the earliest settlers of Talla- 
hassee, a mysterious smoke has often been seen 
rising above the cypress and woodland to the 
southward, seemingly above the waters of Wakulla. 

Often have tales of this mystery reached the ears 
of the outsider, and many are the theories ad- 
vanced as to the meaning of this phenomenon. 

Some years ago, the New York Herald became 
interested in making an investigation. 

A party was sent out to explore these swamps; 
snakes, mosquitoes and dense tangle of under- 
growth caused complete failure in locating the 
source of this mysterious smoke. 

With the vanishing of the Red-Man from these 
swamps, many things remain unexplained: 

Speak, 0 swamp and southern lakes, 

Tell the tale, 0 silent springs, 
Crystal clear, 'mid mossy brakes; 

Tell the tale the south wind sings! 

Speak and tell us why and when, 
This mystery passed from sight of men! 



jforetoorb 



&f)e %egenb of Wakulla ^mofee 

Long ago when Ponce d' Leon 
Landed on our floral shore, 
Sought the spring of youth eternal, 
Sought to find it in this region, 
Waded through the swamp and cypress 
In the low-lands far to southward; 
Reached at last the hills to northward, 
Which are called the hills of Leon; 
Here they found a spring of water 
Rippling through the roots and tangles 
Of the live oak and magnolia, 
Where the yellow jasmine flower 
Blossomed in a golden bower; 
Here the rose, our Cherokee, 
With the jasmine running races, 
Clambered over every tree, 
Bridal flower of vanished faces; 
Here they heard from friendly red-men, 
Legends of this wondrous region; 
Heard the legend of Wakulla; 
Saw the spring of deep clear water, 
Thought they'd found life eternal. 



preface 



Often have you heard the legend 
Of the smoke of our Wakulla; 
Heard the talk of a volcano; 
Heard the talk of Indians hiding — 
Listened to the idle gossips; 
Listened to the tales of terror 
From the men who sought to solve it 
Solve the mystery of Wakulla; 
Solve the smoke of this volcano. 
Long have I these legends gathered, 
From the few old men about here; 
But the mystery of this legend, 
Gathered I from out the forests, 
Listening to the running waters, 
Listening to the birds and fishes, 
Listening to the dead departed, 
Listening to the spirits' whispers; 
Tales of this Wakulla mystery. 
Tales of life on the Wakulla 
In the days that are no more; 
Heard the tales of great Osola, 
Gathered out of woodland lore. 



Legenb of Wakulla 



Long ago a water spirit, 
In the deep spring of Wakulla, 
In the spring of deep clear water, 
Source of waters of this river, 
Loved an Indian chief Wacissa, 
Who had wooed her from the waters. 
And their son was called Osola; 
Called Osola by his mother, 
Meaning half a water spirit. 
Tall and strong grew this Osola, 
True of aim, and full of courage; 
Full of reverence for his father, 
Whom the chiefs all sought in council 
Full of sorrow for his mother, 
Whom they said had loved his father — 
Whom the father never mentioned; 
She who died and left a baby — 
Left the little babe Osola, 
Left him near the running waters, 
On the banks of the Wakulla, 



Now that he had grown to manhood, 

Brave and strong as any warrior, 

Deadly was his aim in hunting. 

Bear and deer and even panther, 

Feared the arrow of Osola — 

Feared to drink of the deep water, 

Feared to come to Wakulla. 

Thus one day the old Wacissa, 

Called his son and tribe about him, 

Told them he must journey westward, 

Told them he must leave Osola 

To command and watch above them; 

Told them of nightly vision, 

^ arning him to journey westward 

To the bay of Pensacola ; 

How they must obey Osola — 

How the squaws must gather fire-wood, 

That the smoke might guide him homeward, 

To the spring of deep clear water, 

To the banks of Wakulla. 



Many moons lived young Osola, 
On the banks of Wakulla, 
And he kept the fires burning, 
Watching for the chief's returning; 
And the smoke rose ever slowly, 
Rose above the swamp and cypress; 
Rose a steady smoky column, 
Which was seen for miles around him. 

On the hills above Wakulla, 

'Mid the upland farther northward, 

Lived a young chief Tallahassee, 

Of the nation Seminole ; 

Lived this young chief Tallahassee, 

And his sister Wanawachee, 

Pride of all the tuscanoogies, 

For her beauty and her goodness, 

For her wisdom and her learning, 

Worshiped by these younger warriors, 

In her language tuscanoogies. 

Long had wondered Wanawachee 

What this smoke meant to the southward, 

And for counsel sought her brother; 

"Brother, see the smoky column 

From the pine woods far to southward! 

Tell me of its meaning, brother, 

Tell me why this steady smoking." 



Then the chieftain Tallahassee, 
In the hills above Wakulla, 
Listened to his sister's story, 
Sat in thought with Wanawachee, 
Gazed in wonder at the mystery, 
From their camp upon the hills. 
Gazed in silent thought and wonder; 
Then this Seminole chieftain, 
In his village in the hills, 
Called his warriors all about him, 
Called his sister Wanawachee — 
"Sister, you may choose two runners 
From the tuscanoogies here. 
Send them to the forests yonder, 
Bid them e'er this moon's departed, 
Bring us tidings of this wonder, 
Bid them find the smoky column, 
In the region of Wakulla; 
Bid them hasten their returning, 
To our camp upon these hills." 



Fleet and swift these Indian runners, 

Sought the woodland farther southward, 

Sought the spring of deep clear water, 

Sought to find the smoky column. 

Many days and nights they wandered, 

In the cypress swamps and marshes, 

Nor could find the smoky column, 

Though they found the deep clear water, 

Of the spring they call Wakulla. 

Here they came upon Osola ? 

Standing by the spring of water, 

And they told him of their errand, 

Told him of chief Tallahassee, 

Told him of their Wanawachee, 

Who had first this wonder seen. 

Told him of her radiant beauty, 

Told him of her gentle goodness, 

Told him how she bid them hasten, 

To this smoke seen far to southward; 

Bid them solve the mystery of it, 

Bid them bring some pledge to prove it, 

"Could the great Osola tell them 

Why this steady smoky column?" 



And as young Osola listened. 
To the runners from the hills; 
Visions of the maiden's beauty, 
Made his heart beat loud within him. 
And he told the Indian runners, 
"Go you back to Wanawachee, 
Take this message to her brother, 
Tell him that this smoky column 
That has caused them both to wonder, 
Is to guide my father homeward 
From his journey to the westward; 
Tell her that I may not leave it, 
E'en to see the wondrous beauty 
Of the maiden Wanawachee. 
Sister of chief Tallahassee. 
Tell her of our conversation, 
Bid her come to our W akulla. 
With her brother Tallahassee, 
Bid her drink of the sweet water 
Of the deep spring Wakulla, 



Tell the chieftain Tallahassee. 

In his village on the hills. 

I would wed fair Wanawachee, 

Bid him bring her to the springs. 

Tell him of my vow to stay here. 

Watching for my father's coming. 

From his journey to the westward. 

From the bay of Pensacola; 

Take this message to your chieftain — 

Say it comes from me — Osola." 

And he gave them each a token 
For the maiden and her brother. 
Gave them each an arrow broken — 
Sent them with a guide to lead them 
From the pine woods and the cypres 
Out the swamp lands of Wakulla. 
To the banks of running water, 
To the banks of the Wakulla. 



Soon they reached the upland northward, 

With their token from Osola, 

Sought the maiden Wanawachee, 

Sought the young chief Tallahassee, 

Told them of Chief O&ola, 

Laid the arrows at their feet; 

Told them of the conversation, 

Of his vow to watch the fire 

On the banks of the Wakulla; 

Told her of the deep clear water 

Of the spring they call Wakulla. 

Then they gave to her his message, 

How he wished their Wanawachee; 

Made her head hang low with blushes. 

When they gave the invitation, 

Proud, she held her head the higher, 

"Let him leave his smoky fire 

If he Wanawachee wed/' 



But the chieftain Tallahassee. 
Understood the young Osola; 
Loved him for his pledge and token. 
Loved him for the arrow broken. 
Loved in ^ anawachee's stead. 
"Sister, we will journey southward. 
To the camp of this Osola. 
To the banks of the T\ akulla. 
To the spring of deep clear water — 
I would see the great Osola. 
W ho would ^\ anawachee wed." 



Thus it was that W anawachee 
Journeyed to the swamp lands southwc 
To the spring they call ^ akulla. 
Source of waters of the river. 
Thus it was she met Osola 
^\ aiting for his father's coming 
From the bay of Pensacola. 
Saw him standing by the water 
Of the deep clear spring ^\ akulla. 
Saw the strength and manly beauty- 
Beauty of his spirit mother. 
\X ith the manhood of his father; 
Saw all this upon approaching. 
And her heart was stirred within her. 



Now Osola hastened forward. 
When he saw these strangers coming 
Guessed he. they were Tallahassee 
And the beauteous maiden with him 
Was his sister Wanawachee. 
Cordial was his gracious greeting. 
Of the chieftain and his sister. 
And he led them to his village 
On the banks of the Wakulla, 
Near the swiftly running water; 
And for days did young Osola 
Entertain the Indian chieftain. 
With good fishing and good shooting- 
Entertain the lovely maiden. 
Bringing flowers from the woods. 
Bringing birds of rarest plumage. 
Bringing every friendly token. 
Showed her every nook and bower, 
Yet no word of love was spoken. 



Oft at night Osola left them 
Sitting by the bright camp fire. 
Left to seek the spring Wakulla, 
there he talked to water spirits. 
Talked to them of his poor mother, 
W hom the spirits still lamented. 
Listened to their lamentations, 
Begging for her sake and memory, 
lo revenge her death and sorrow. 
Greatly was Osola troubled, 
Torn with love for his old father 
And deep sorrow for his mother, 
Lrawn by love to Wanawachee, 
Whom the spirits wished to capture. 
W ithm his heart he fought and struggle 
While the spirits softly gurgled. 
But at last he smiled in triumph, 

Hall a spirit, half a mortal, 
fhis the meaning of Osola." 
J h >" lle llear d the spirits calling 
-lo this home beneath the water 
Could he take his Wanawachee' 
To the home his mother strayed from 
In the deep clear spring Wakulla? 



Day and night Osola wandered, 
Through the pine and cypress forests, 
Sought the magic of the moonbeam, 
Called upon the stars to help him, 
To release his soul from torture, 
To appease the water spirits 
Who were calling, ever calling, 
Heartless in their cruel whispers. 
Then he sought the perfumed bowers 
Where he first had led the maiden 
Wanawachee, his beloved one. 
Here at last the jasmine flower 
Told the secret of her power. 
"Drop a blossom of the jasmine 
In the deep clear spring W r akulla, 
Mortals then could breathe the water, 
Like the sweet pure air about them." 

Light of heart returned Osola 

To the spring of deep clear water, 

In his hand the jasmine flower. 



Restless grew fair Wanawachee, 
And she wandeerd from the fire, 
Wandered to the deep clear water 
Of the spring they call Wakulla — 
Here she saw a water spirit, 
Sister of Osola's mother, 
And she talked to Wanawachee 
Of the great chief, old Wacissa — 
Told her how she lost her sister, 
Told it all in gentle whisper 
Like the sound of running water. 
Wanawachee, as she listened, 
Saw Osola standing near her, 
Saw him step into the water, 
Holding both his arms toward her, 
And her heart was pounding faster 
Than the swiftly running water; 
But Osola caught her to him, 
Drew her down beneath the waters, 
To the depths of the clear water 
In the deep spring of Wakulla. 



When the chieftain Tallahassee, 

Waked to find his sister gone, 

Missed Osola from the fire, 

Found he'd slept the whole night long, 

Quick he roused the tuscanoogies, 

And the warriors of Osola, 

And a search was made to find them. 

Through the woods and by the waters 

Of the deep spring called Wakulla; 

But no sign or trace was found then — 

Just the whisper of the water. 

"To revenge Osola's mother, 

To revenge Osola's mother," 

Whispered soft the running water. 

Yet the fire has kept on burning, 
Waiting for the chief's returning, 
From the bay of Pensacola, 
Fed at night by Wanawachee, 
And her lover, young Osola. 



PEPPER PRINTING COMPANY, GAINESVILLE, FLA, 





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